Explorer Post at ACUA

ACUA's Explorer Post introduces high school students to environmental careers at our facilities. Students will meet with ACUA employees at a series of interactive meetings throughout the year and learn about the skills needed for different career paths at ACUA.

Meetings are held monthly from September through May, but students are welcome to join the program at any time. There is a fee to participate. Please
contact us for more information!

Meeting Schedule & Topics:

Meetings will be held monthly between September 2017 and May 2018 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at ACUA's Environmental Park or Wastewater Treatment Facility.

September 14 - Open HouseCome meet the dedicated employee team that makes ACUA innovative, green, and successful. There are a variety of jobs that our company offers, from curbside collections, to administration, engineering, laboratory technicians, and so many more. Learn about the work our employees do to make our communities safe, to protect human health and the environment. Get a sneak peek at some of the career areas we will have fun exploring.

September 28 - Kick Off: Administration & Overview Financial professionals, research and development, human resources, information technology and public relations are some important jobs that are often overlooked. Learn how ACUA leverages technology, innovations and employee ideas to reach both our internal and external audiences. See what it takes to be our recycling mascot, Supercan!

October 26 - Wastewater Systems and Operation You may not have considered what happens to the water that goes down the drain, but there are highly trained and skilled employees working behind the scenes to be sure the water we use is cleaned and treated properly before its discharged into the ocean. Over 60 miles of pipes and 20 pump stations convey 28 to 30 million gallons of wastewater for treatment in Atlantic City every day.

November 16 - Water Testing LaboratoryACUA operates a state certified water testing lab at our Wastewater Treatment Facility in Atlantic City. In addition to performing critical testing for the wastewater treatment operation, our lab also handles work for other clients including ocean water testing to make sure it’s safe for swimming at the beach and testing water from wells at local schools and restaurants. Our trained laboratory technicians keep very busy monitoring water quality!

December 14 - Recycling Collections, Processing & MarketingFor many people, ACUA is synonymous with recycling. With a collection fleet of almost 50 trucks, ACUA drivers and handlers travel across the county to collect recycling and other materials. Working with our recycling partner, ReCommunity, materials collected are sorted and prepared, then marketed to companies who will use them to create new materials. Learn what’s involved with this critical, multi-step process.

January 25 - EngineeringEvery project begins as an idea, and the knowledge engineers possess is critical in seeing projects through from inception to completion. Whether a project is done “in-house” or with the aid of outside contractors, ACUA’s Engineers are essential to the successful design and implementation of ACUA’s many projects and initiatives.

February 22 - Vehicle MaintenanceOur Centralized Maintenance staff performs an incredible variety of tasks that are essential to keep our vehicles running safe, smooth, and effective. Not only do they service gigantic machines used in the landfill and compost areas, they are trained in our Compressed Natural Gas collection trucks, electric vehicle fleet, and standard automobiles. Our mechanics are a hard-working and talented team dedicated to properly servicing and repairing equipment used throughout almost every department.

March 22 - Buildings & GroundsOur Buildings and Grounds team doesn’t just mow the lawn in our 360-acre Environmental Park, they design and construct creative projects, like some of our playground equipment, install and replace lighting fixtures, set up huge displays at events, and keep ACUA looking neat and tidy. This team is flexible and uses creative problem-solving techniques to solve every challenge that comes their way.

April 26 - Landfill & Compost Operations Two key components of ACUA’s Solid Waste Operations are our sanitary landfill and our compost operations. Our landfill takes in close to 900 tons of material daily, and covers over 100 acres. Learn how we collect methane gas from the landfill to create electricity as well as what makes our landfill unlike any others. Our 10-acre compost operation turns leaves, grass, brush and stumps into ACUA’s popular Ecosoil Compost which enriches local gardens and lawns by amending our sandy local soils. From the engineers tasked with designing the landfill, to the heavy equipment operators who work day and night to manage the materials at these sites, you’ll be surprised at the diversity of skills that are employed in successfully managing these two operations.

May 24 - Green Energy & Explorers End of Year Celebration ACUA initiatives and operations require a substantial amount of electricity and the company has positioned itself as an environmental leader, in part by implementing several renewable energy projects. These projects include the 7.5-MW Jersey Atlantic Wind Farm and a 500-kW solar project at the ACUA’s Wastewater Treatment Facility in Atlantic City. Our Landfill Gas to Energy initiative powers our Solid Waste facility (with trash) and several other clean, green projects demonstrate how smart choices can help the environmental and save money.

In May, families are invited to join us at 6:30 p.m. for our program’s end of year celebration. See the adventures embarked by students throughout the year and enjoy a special surprise!